The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an epidemiological alert as Latin America sees a surge in Oropouche virus cases, a lesser-known disease transmitted by midges and mosquitoes.
This alert follows the PAHO’s report of the first deaths linked to the virus, including fetal deaths possibly due to vertical transmission, where the virus is passed from mother to child during pregnancy.
So far, there have been at least 8,078 confirmed Oropouche cases across the Americas, including two fatalities. The majority of these cases are concentrated in Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Peru, and Brazil, which has the highest number of confirmed cases and where the two deaths occurred.
In Brazil, two young women, aged 21 and 24, are believed to have died from the virus. Both women experienced sudden symptoms like fever, muscle aches, pain behind the eyes, headaches, and vomiting before succumbing to the illness a few days later. A third death in Brazil is also being investigated as possibly related to Oropouche.
Brazil has reported 7,284 confirmed cases, accounting for 90% of all Oropouche cases in the Americas. This marks a significant increase from the 832 cases reported in the country last year.
Brazilian health officials are also investigating other fatal cases, including one fetal death, one miscarriage, and four cases of newborns with microcephaly, a birth defect linked to smaller-than-normal head size. Microcephaly is also associated with the Zika virus, another disease spread by mosquitoes.
In one case, a Brazilian mother who exhibited Oropouche-like symptoms sought medical help on June 6 after noticing reduced fetal movement. The virus’s genetic material was found in umbilical cord blood and organ tissue following the confirmed fetal death. Another mother miscarried after experiencing symptoms related to the virus. In addition, antibodies against Oropouche were found in four newborns with microcephaly during a study conducted by Brazilian health officials.
These cases led PAHO to issue an earlier alert on July 17 regarding potential mother-to-child transmission of the Oropouche virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, it remains unclear whether Oropouche infection was the direct cause of the adverse health outcomes in these fetuses.
The CDC is collaborating with PAHO and other international partners to better understand the potential risks of Oropouche during pregnancy.
Currently, there are no vaccines or specific antiviral treatments available for Oropouche. Treatment is focused on managing symptoms, according to PAHO.
Symptoms of Oropouche virus resemble those of dengue and include headaches, fever, muscle aches, stiff joints, nausea, vomiting, chills, and light sensitivity. In severe cases, the virus can cause inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
In some patients, symptoms may also include rash, vomiting, and bleeding—such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or small spots of blood under the skin, according to PAHO.
Symptoms usually begin four to eight days after a person is bitten by an infected insect. Although they generally last three to six days, the infection can persist for up to three weeks.